A CREWE man who played a part in stealing fireworks with a retail value of £25,000 from a farm at Sandbach has been given a 12-month community order.

Jamie Lee Clarke, 18, of Rolls Avenue, was found guilty of burglary and theft when he appeared on trial at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The court heard how a large quantity of fireworks along with two trailers with a combined value of £3,500, were stolen from a farm in Clay Lane, Moston, near Sandbach, between October 31 and November 1 last year.

Miss Kate Hurst, prosecuting, said the fireworks were part of a large collection owned by professional display company, Nemesis of Crewe and stored in three former steel shipping containers on a private part of the farm kept secret for safety.

She said due to the large amount of fireworks stolen, it was no wonder the trailers – belonging to businessman Agostino Fabrizio – were taken to transport the stock. The offence was committed as a “joint enterprise”, evident due to the quantity taken. Specialist hydraulic equipment was used to cut locks on the containers.

However, Neil Christian, for Clarke, said the only conclusive evidence at the scene was a fingerprint inside one of the containers which was found to match Clarke’s. Even though Clarke was being charged along with others, he was the only one before the court.

“A fingerprint isn’t enough”, he said. “There is nothing else connecting Mr Clarke with this offence. He was not found in possession of any fireworks or has any connections with the others questioned over this incident.”

In court, Clarke said he was rabbiting with his dog and his fingerprint was on the inside of the container because his dog ran after a rabbit and ended up going into the trailer, which was open. He had to lean into the trailer to call his dog out but did not see anything suspicious. He was also given a six-month 8pm-6am curfew and ordered to pay £1,030 compensation.